DI Lady Flames suffer first ACHA shutout in seven seasons
1/23/2021 12:00:00 AM | Women's D1 Hockey
A defensive duel between Liberty University's two-time defending ACHA Division I National Championship women's hockey team and Lindenwood University — the only program to win three consecutive titles back in 2007-10 — showed Head Coach Chris Lowes that the Lady Flames have their work cut out for them if they are going to three-peat in less than three months.
The Lady Lions (5-0) scored two third-period goals in a 2-0 triumph over the Lady Flames (4-1), who dropped their 2021 opener and ACHA season debut, Saturday night at the LaHaye Ice Center.
"We've got a lot we've got to figure out," Lowes said. "That was a bit eye-opening. They battled us tough and I think they outworked us in some areas. We just looked a little shellshocked. It was 0-0 forever and when they finally took the lead, that's when it finally set in that we were going to have a hard time finding a way to get that (first) goal."
Liberty, which finished 30-2-1 last season with its only two losses to Lindenwood, was shut out for the first time since Sept. 23, 2017, at home against the Washington Pride, and the first time against an ACHA opponent since March 14, 2014. That day, in Newark, Del., the Lady Flames lost 1-0 in the semifinals of the ACHA DI National Championships to eventual champion Miami (Ohio) University, which won three titles in four seasons from 2014-17.
In a game that featured back-and-forth action with plenty of speed going both ways but not a lot of high-percentage scoring chances, Lindenwood finally broke the scoreless tie with 12:17 remaining in regulation on a wide-open putback by Dakota McAlpine in the right side of the goalmouth after fellow forward Risa Shatford was knocked down on her initial shot as she skated through the left crease.
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| Liberty senior forward Danica Polson tries to swat away the puck in front of Lindenwood's Lindsay Gillis. |
The Lady Flames pulled freshman goalie Amanda Storey with 1:40 to go and Lady Lions senior forward Hannah Jensen put the game away with an empty-net goal in the final 42 seconds, slamming home a putback of Shatford's wraparound shot from behind the cage.
"I don't think anyone in the room is happy with that, not just because of the result, but we didn't really check off any of the things we had as goals for our first game (of 2021)," Lowes said. "I don't think we looked very fresh, didn't have great energy. Outside of that, we're a deep team offensively and we didn't do much that was dangerous. We didn't create much offense and then we allowed them to play a really good road game."
Liberty outshot the Lady Lions, 22-18, with freshman goalie Amanda Storey making 16 saves.
"It was a back-and-forth game but obviously, the outcome wasn't what we wanted," Lady Flames senior forward Shelby Bradford said. "Our intensity definitely could have been better. We came off a little slow and we didn't capitalize on chances that we had. We were fanning on a lot of shots."
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| Senior forward Alex Smibert is wrapped up from behind by Lady Lions forward Kennedy Frank on Saturday night. |
Bradford is optimistic Liberty will be able to turn the tables on Lindenwood in Sunday's rematch back at the LIC set for 1:30 p.m., when freshman Kylie Mebs will get the start in goal.
"You can't win every game," Bradford said. "It's hockey. It's obviously not always going to go our way. All we can do is watch film tonight, take notes, figure out what we need to do at each of our positions, and come back tomorrow with a different head and just play our game and hopefully, we'll get a better outcome."
"We've got a lot of work to do," Lowes added. "They've always played us tough. Now, we've got to find a way to come back and split the series (on Sunday) and get better. We've got to get better every game. That's always the goal, and with that loss, it just kind of increases the urgency. Tomorrow's a new day."
By Ted Allen/Staff Writer
Liberty fourth-year Head Coach Chris Lowes shouts from behind the Lady Flames' bench.